Sunday, December 6, 2015

Barech Alenu

Last night we stopped saying Barichenu in the Amida and switched to saying Barech Alenu instead. Ashkenazim always say Barech Alenu and in the winter add the words "veten tal umatar livracha." Outside of Eretz Yisrael this switch occurs sixty days after the equinox which generally falls out the night of either the fourth or the fifth of December.

One who forgot to switch and said Barichenu should go back to the words "veten tal umatar livracha" and continue saying the proper beracha from there. If he only remembered after finishing the beracha he should say "veten tal umatar livracha" between berachot and then continue on with the next beracha. If he remembered when he got to Shema Kolenu he should insert it during Shema Kolenu before the words "ki ata shome'a tefilat." If he remembered after saying the words "Baruch ata HaShem" at the end of the beracha, he should say "lamdeni hukecha," say "veten tal..." and then continue with "ki ata..." After Shema Kolenu he may say "veten tal..." if he remembers. Once he started Retzeh however, he must go back to Barech Alenu and continue from there. If he remembered after he finished the Amida, even if he hasn't yet stepped back, he must start over again from the beginning. A woman who forgets follows the same procedure.

DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org